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Selected documents from Genoese archives

This section offers 17 documents dating between the late-twelfth and mid-fifteenth centuries, mostly transcribed from the notarial registers of Genoa. The documents were transcribed by Christoph Cluse. They are available in PDF format and may be used for teaching and research.

Before the notary Damiano de Camulio, Ansaldo de Scala sells to Giovanni Segrotando of Riparolo a female Circassian slave named Lucia, c. 24 years of age, for 21 lb. The slave has a daughter, c. one month old.

Paysino, son of the late Antonio de Paysio, makes his last will. He leaves bequests to his former serva or ancilla Giovaneta and to his former wetnurse Giacopina. Both have children of their own (excerpt)

In a codicil to her last will, Daniseta, widow of the late Nicolino, asks her son Franceschino to manumit her slave Jacobina, whom he had once given to her. In case he should disobey, she sets aside 50 lb. to be given to her daughter Petra.

Arbitration by Celestrino de Nigro, lawyer, in the case between Denegina, wife and representative of Giovanni Pantie di Enrico, and Benedetta, formerly named Christina, concerning the legal status of the latter: Benedetta shall be declared free and pay Denegina 20 lb. in return. She may also work off the sum by 5 years of unsalaried labour. Denegina shall treat her decently. Benedicta may also continue staying with Raffaele Cavallo, whose child she is nursing, for one year, but pay 7 lb. to Denegina in return.

Before the notary Bartolomeo Gatto, Giovanni de Fornariis de Alexandria, draper, accords a quitclaim to Giovanni de Senis over 6 lb. 5 s. and declares him free of all obligations resulting from the pregnancy of his slave Catalina.

Before the notary Giuliano de Canella, Giovanni de Goascho, notary, declares that Raffaele Musso, also notary, had lent him a Tatar slave named Cristina for nursing his baby child. Giovanni promises to return the slave upon his return to Genoa.

Life insurance: Before the notary Andreolo Caito, Cristiano Cataneo, representative of Antonio Cataneo, promises to Gabriele Lercario payment of 75 lb., unless the Tatar slave Lucia, c. 38 years of age and pregnant by one Iohannes de Riparolio, should not die during childbirth.

Various decrees concerning slaves and servants, in particular against those who render a female slave pregnant. These owe 25 lb. to the slave’s patron. Should she die from complications of pregnancy or childbirth, further 50 lb. must be paid. As proof is difficult in these cases, the slave’s oath should be regarded as valid testimony. Heavy punishments for a male slave who renders pregnant a woman slave owned by a different patron.

Erena, a Hungarian woman formerly held as a slave by Antonius Cibo, had been declared free by the procurators. In return, she had to pay 90 lb. to Antonio, a sum that Catanus Doria had pledged to pay for her. Unable to pay off the loan, she promises to render 14 years of unsalaried service to Enrieto Doria

Medical expertise by Masters Andreas de la Turre and Franciscus Costacio in a case between Iohannes de Clavaro, representing Pantaleone de Dona (Doria?), and Iohannes de Brignole, concerning a Circassian slave named Catherina who had been bought by the latter. Catherina must be returned to the seller because she suffers from a tapeworm (tinia) and lack of menstruation, from which further, grave illnesses may arise.